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Princeton's Annual Giving campaign raises $57 million

Posted July 8, 2013; 03:00 p.m.

by the Office of Development Communications

Princeton University's 2012-13 Annual Giving campaign raised $57,019,138 — the second-highest total in Annual Giving history — with 61.1 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. The results are notable for their strength and breadth across all of Princeton's constituencies: undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents and friends.

"This year's Annual Giving results are truly remarkable," said President Christopher L. Eisgruber, a member of the Class of 1983. "These unrestricted funds are vital to sustaining Princeton's distinctive mission as a great research university with an unmatched commitment to liberal arts education, while also helping us to meet the full financial needs of our students. My sincere thanks go out to all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and to alumni, parents and friends for their loyal and ever-generous support of Princeton."

Undergraduate alumni participation in Annual Giving surpassed 61 percent for the second time in three years, drawing the largest number of alumni donors ever: 36,825. In addition, the 2012-13 campaign brought in a record number of gifts from all constituencies: 44,871.

The Class of 1988, with a participation rate of 77.6 percent, raised the greatest amount — $9,001,988, the second-highest total ever for a Princeton class. The 50th Reunion Class of 1963 raised a record-setting $8,500,063 from 84.1 percent of its members. Two other major Reunion classes set new records: the Class of 1983, which broke the 30th Reunion record with $4,313,083; and the Class of 1993, which raised $2,302,693 in celebration of its 20th Reunion.

The Class of 1958 finished with $2,069,483, the second-highest total for a 55th Reunion class. Four other major Reunion classes raised more than $1 million: 1978 with $2,192,492; 1973 with $1,375,970; 1968 with $1,110,119; and 1998 with $1,007,515.

A record-setting $1,859,038 was received from 3,097 graduate alumni — the largest number of graduate alumni donors ever. Princeton parents gave more than $3 million for the second year in a row, contributing $3,024,809 to the total.

The Class of 1981 raised the highest total among non-major Reunion classes, with $688,321; 11 other non-major Reunion classes also set records.

The Class of 1936 had the highest participation rate: 100 percent of the class's six members made gifts to Annual Giving. Their result was closely followed by the Class of 2012, with 84.8 percent in its first Annual Giving campaign; the Class of 1963, with 84.1 percent on the occasion of its 50th Reunion; and the Class of 2010, which reached 81.4 percent. Ten other classes recorded participation rates of 70 percent or higher.

The youngest five classes averaged 76.8 percent participation, and the youngest 10 classes averaged 71.9 percent participation. The Class of 2013, the University's newest alumni, achieved a pledge rate of 90.1 percent, with 1,165 of its members pledging to support Annual Giving for the next four years.

"I am grateful to our extraordinary volunteer corps who year in, year out give their time and energy in order to bring about each campaign's results," said Annual Giving Chair John O. "Dubby" Wynne, a member of the Class of 1967. "The fact that 61.1 percent of undergraduate alumni participated in this year's effort speaks volumes not only to the substance of our great University, but also to the dedication of the entire Princeton family."

Unrestricted gifts to Annual Giving go directly into the operating budget and have an immediate impact on Princeton and its students. These flexible funds allow the University to seize new intellectual opportunities, respond to unexpected challenges and support a groundbreaking financial aid program that makes a Princeton education possible for all admitted students.